The Sunday Read: ‘How Everyone Got Lost in Netflix’s Endless Library’
The Daily
Deep Dive
Why did Netflix start releasing its viewership data?
To provide transparency and understanding of its content's popularity.
How did Netflix's vast library impact the television industry?
It changed the business model and the nature of television by offering endless content.
What was the impact of Netflix's debt-financed growth on the industry?
It led to rapid expansion and transformation of the television landscape.
Why did Netflix borrow large amounts of money?
To expand its original programming and dominate the content market.
How did the zero interest rate policy (ZERP) affect venture capital investments?
It encouraged risk-taking and increased venture capital deals.
What is the significance of Netflix's viewer data spreadsheet?
It reveals the popularity of content and the randomness of viewer habits.
Why did some shows on Netflix feel like failures despite being hits?
High production costs made it hard to justify their value in a vast library.
How did the streaming model change the traditional TV business?
It shifted focus from building audiences to catering to individual viewer preferences.
What challenges did the abundance of content on Netflix create?
It led to information poverty and disconnects between viewer habits and critical discourse.
How did the tech world's influence on culture create a zombie discourse?
By enabling businesses to survive on cheap capital, leading to superficial growth and media changes.
- The author's fixation on the degradation of TV show quality.
- The shift from prestige series to an abundance of content.
- Netflix's release of viewership data, providing insights into the explosion of streaming television.
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